Policy Matters: Prospects from National Consortium on SRI

Round Table at Council for Social Development Jan 13th 2011

Policy Pivots for SRI

Food Food SecuritySecurity

Irrigation Reforms

Sustainability in Rice 

Eco‐Systems

Past efforts contributing to SRI upscaling

Nov‐06  1st National SRI Symposium at HyderabadOct‐07 2nd National Symposium at AgartalaDec‐08 3rd National Symposium at CoimbatoreFeb‐09 SRI scaling up ‐ future directions meeting at ICRISATMay‐09 Planning Commission consultation at ANGRAU, HyderabadDec‐09 Policy meeting on SRI at Delhi, PRADAN, NFSMApr‐10 Proposal discussion by SRI group with NFSMJun‐10 Proposal submitted by NABARD to NFSM for SRI coverage through NGOs Jul‐10 NRMC holds national conference on SRI Jul‐10 National SWI workshop; AP SRI consortium formed Oct‐10 National SRI Consortium meeting organized by PRADAN & NCAPDec‐10 Planning Commission 12th plan consultation on food security HyderabadDec‐10 National SRI workshop, WWF HyderabadFeb‐11 SCI workshop at Patna, BiharMar 11 Round table on SRI – Upscaling Strategy at IARI, SRI in Krishi Mela

May – Sep 11PC Sub groups on ‘Upscaling Innovative Technologies’ and Mission Mode Project on SRI for 12th Plan

Regular stateRegular state‐‐level workshops/ learning alliances in Orissa, Bengal, level workshops/ learning alliances in Orissa, Bengal, UttarakhandUttarakhand, AP, etc., AP, etc.

Why a national consortium?

• Furthering Science of SRI: Why does it work, what if some principles ignored/ replaced (herbicide use, line transplant vs SRI etc.) ‐ not all ICAR and agricultural universities are on board

• Following (& guiding) Practice: Assessing benefits, studying adoption patterns, grassroot and institutional innovations, providing  insights to field agencies on SRI

• Promoting Policies on SRI: – Lot happening in the field on SRI, SCI ‐ need to inform national‐

level policies, – India as world leader in agroecology ‘Poor positioning’– Upscaling SRI requires working in partnership and different 

institutional mechanisms for extension

Crop Growth Rate

The increase in CGR in SRI crops was mainly due tomaintenance of leaf area (lower leaf senescence) - Lower rateof leaf senescence might be due to larger amounts ofCYTOKININS (xylem exudates) are transported from roots.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70C

GR

(g m

-2da

y-1)

Period (Days after germination)

Understanding Science of SRI Understanding Science of SRI –– ThakurThakur, Stoop et al., Stoop et al.

Panicle length

Grains per spike

Grain filling

Roots growth and activity

Canopy development

Light utilization

Higher Yield in SRI

Tiller number

Panicle number

A schematic model showing factors that may be responsible for higher grain yield of rice plant grown under SRI management practices. (CK: Cytokinins; LAI: Leaf area index; RUBISCO: Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/ oxygenase)

CK

Delayed senescenceHigher photosynthates towards roots

Higher leaf N-content, More Chlorophyll content More RUBISCO

Increased Leaf number & leaf size

Greater light interception

Higher microbial activity

Enhanced panicle length,More grain number & better grain filling

Greater root growth and activity

Increased effective tillers

HIGHER GRAIN YIELD

Open hill structureMore erect leaves

Higher LAI

Enhanced photosynthesis rate

Higher nutrient uptake

Units SRI RMP

Kg per kg seed 797.13 59.83

Kg per kg fertilizer 12.99 9.14

Kg per man-days 35 23

Kg per ha land 6377 4487

Liter water per kg 1571 2801

Estimated average productivity of inputs on SRI Estimated average productivity of inputs on SRI and RMPand RMP

SeedSeed

FertilizerFertilizer

LabourLabourLandLand

WaterWater

SRI enhance paddy yields, increase returns and save labour SRI enhance paddy yields, increase returns and save labour and water; and enhance productivity with respect to the key and water; and enhance productivity with respect to the key inputs in terms of paddy output per unit of seed, fertilizer, inputs in terms of paddy output per unit of seed, fertilizer, labour day and water.labour day and water.

AICRIP Results

• AICRIP centers, SRI performed well and found superior (10‐15% )higher grain yields)over Conventional flooded irrigation with reduced inputs  but the response is not same in all the situations. ( ACRIP reports 2005‐2010, Mahender Kumar etal., 2010)

• Differential response of varieties for yield under  SRI,  however most of the varieties tested found promising  in SRI over conventional method. Hybrids and medium duration cultivars showed greater  promise under SRI method

State Policies on SRI to catch upPro active State governments

Tamil Nadu (9 lakh ha), Tripura (1 lakh ha), Andhra Pradesh (7.5 lakhha) , Bihar (3.5 lakh ha), Uttar Pradesh (1.5 lakh ha) Odisha, Jharkhand, 

NABARD shows alternate stream of upscaling: 66 units of 400 farmers in Kharif and Rabi 2010 involving 24,200 farmers in AP, Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Karnataka etc.

SDTT and other donors: Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand (81,138 SRI farmers in 2010‐11 in over 8000 ha)Other donors in Karnataka, AP, TN, Himachal, UP and other states

Potential area of SRI in different ecosytems of rice

Ecosystem Area under rice  (mha)

Potential (%) Proposed Area under SRI          ( m ha)

Remarks 

Irrigated  24.5 30 7.65 Highly suitable

Rainfed Low land

14.0 30 4.2  Suitable 

RainfedUplands

4.0 10 0.4 Suitable

Deep Water  1.3 Nil Nil Not suitable

Total 12.25 `

(%) Rice area 28 

Policy Pivots for SRI

Food Food SecuritySecurity

Irrigation Reforms

Sustainability in Rice 

Eco‐Systems

• Each pivot has different• Objectives• Geographical locations • Actors/ departments• Programs to be converged• Research needs

• Requirements of Extension of SRI however, are common

• Needs location (district or block) specific action

Therefore….

• Establish a common institutional architecture for realising SRI potential

• Nodal institution can channel program funding from multiple sources.

Monitoring/ Monitoring/ Feedback Feedback LoopLoop

R&D and policy R&D and policy inputs/ Technologyinputs/ Technology Capacity building 

support roleState Resource  Orgn (SRO)

Master Trainers

Grassroot Farmer Groups/FFS/SHG

FARMERS

CSO/ NGOsDOA/KVK CBOs

Dept of Agri, KVK & SAU –Streams 1&2

Autonomous agencies SERP, BRLPS etc. Stream 3

NABARD through NGOs , NGOs thro donors Streams 4&5

Village Resource PersonsVillage Resource Persons

National National Consortium on SRI Consortium on SRI 

Ministry of Ministry of AgriAgri, , R&D Org., R&D Org., 

Universities, donors, Universities, donors, innovation brokers, innovation brokers, 

farmers etcfarmers etc

SRI needs different Institutional framework SRI needs different Institutional framework 

Policy Policy formulationformulation

Extension Requirements of SRI1. Need to work on a compact block (area) approach 

(moving away from scattered demonstrations)

2. Need to work with labour and farmers

3. Work for at least 3 years (focus on transition to SRI)

4. Implemented by farmers/ community organisations

5. Facilitated / supported by an agency (NGO/ KVK/others)

6. A dedicated field level facilitator

7. Practicing farmers as trainers 

8. Create ‘Implements pool’ at GP / village level & develop local fabricators

9. Investing on NRM (soils and irrigation systems) through convergence of programs (MGNREGS & Irrigation) gives the best result

Institutional Framework For SRI Programs

Monitoring/ Monitoring/ Feedback Feedback LoopLoop

R&D and policy R&D and policy inputs/ Technologyinputs/ Technology

Village Resource Persons 

Master Trainer (Farmers)

CSO/ NGO/ KVKFacilitating Organisation

ATMA (DOA)

SRI Programs (Agrl, Irrigation, RD..)

National & National & State State 

Consortia on Consortia on SRI SRI 

Ministry of Ministry of Agri.,R&DAgri.,R&D Org., Org., Universities, Universities, donors, donors, 

innovation innovation brokers, brokers, 

farmers etcfarmers etcFarmers’ GroupsFarmers’ Groups(WUA, SHG, (WUA, SHG, Coop, etc.)Coop, etc.)

(Implementation)(Implementation)

Capacity building Capacity building support rolesupport roleRD (MGNREGS),

Irrigation,

Electricity, Etc

Fund requirement(based on existing norm)

Unit modelInvestment per farmer, Rs.

Unit cost Rs.

Total cost (crores)

Number of farmer/unit 400Area per unit in ac 400 (160 ha)

Input support: Rs./farmer

2190 

(progressively reduced) 876000 5475

Capacity building: Rs/farmer 310 124000 775

Handholding: Rs./farmer 558 223200 1395

Total unit cost (Rs.) 3058/farmer 1,223,200 

Total farmers covered 25 million# Total Area target 10 m ha# Total units required (No.) 62500Total cost (Rs. Crore/year) 7645  Progressively reduced

Budget Requirements of SRIBudget Requirements of SRI